User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
D.R. Martin
a Audio Enthusiast

Date Reviewed: October 5, 2012

Bottom Line:

This is a Class D pro amp, and therefore not anything very stylish or elegant. In fact, the XLS1000 is a homely looking little guy. But if the output of your preamp or other source fits the Crown, you will be in for a special treat if you use it in a home setup, as I am.

Because--pro amp or not--it is a great sounding piece of gear. It drives my custom satellite/sub system without breaking a sweat. I've never even heard the fan come on and it stays coolish to the touch. Hooked up to my ARC SP9II, it conveys a lucid picture of most music on a well defined sound stage. Its only weakness may be with massed strings in classical music (but that could be the preamp, too, which hasn't has new tubes in 20 years). It's as good or better than other power amps I've owned (Hafler, Sanyo, Kenwood, NAD). A bonus is that it's light as feather, 7 or 8 pounds!

So if you have a home system with a good preamp and reasonably efficient speakers, you're gonna love the XLS1000. It costs only $300, though I got mine on sale for $260. If you need more zip, look at the XLS 1500, 2000, or 2500. And it's a Crown. Well built with a three year warranty.